Wrench



F. c. WUTKE.

WRENCH.

APPLICATION FILED JA N.I1. I921.

1,407,110; Patented Feb-21, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I. v

F. C. WUTKE.

WRENCH.

APPLICATION HLED JAN. H, 1921.

Patented Feb. 21, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

t e r, no.

NIT

rarest truce,

raanx'c. WUTKE, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

T 0 Z whom 2'25 may concern:

vBe it known'that I, FRANK C. l/VU-TKE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ch cago. in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in lVrenches, of which the following is a specification.

a This invention relates to improvements in wrenches and has as its general object to provide a wrench simple in construction and embodying a handle member and a work engaging head-which latter is adapted to be assembled with'the handle member in a plurality of positions to adaptthe wrench to be employed under varyingconditions and in the most convenient manner.

I ure 4, the work-engaging head of the wrench being disposed at right angles to the position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wrench which may be employed as a ratchet wrench-when a wrench of that type is desired or may be readily and quickly converted into a rigid form where the ratchet feature is not desirable and where a solid or rigid tool is preferred.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the wrench that while it may be converted into the ratchet type, it will be more substantial than wrenches of this type as usually constructed, as it is devoid of the weak spring-carried pawls of the usual wrenches of this type.

V In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of the wrench embodying the present invention, the work engaging head of the wrench being' assembled with one end of the pintle member; 7 V

Figure 2 is a group perspective view 1llustrating the parts of the wrench disassembled; v

-Figure 3' is a vertical longitudlnal sectionalview through the wrench arranged as in Figure 1 except with the work-engaging head disposed at right angles to the position which it occupies in Figure 1;

Figure 4L is a perspective view of the wrench, the view illustrating the work-engaging head adapted to the other end of the handle member;

Figure 5 is ahorizontal sect onal View taken substantially on the hue 55 of Figillustrated in Figure 4:;

vFigurefi is a view similar to- F1gure-3 but illustrating the wrench converted from the ratchet type intothe rigid type;

Application filed. January 11,1921. -Seria1 No. 436,483.

WRENCH. I

Specification of Letters Patent. 1 3113111 61 Feb 21;"1922 Figure I isa perspective View of oneof the parts omitted in Figure 6; Figui"e, 8 is a bottom plan view-of an auxihary nut which may be employed;

Figure 9-is a side elevation of thesaid nut. I In the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates in general the handle member of the wrench andthe numeral 2 the work-engaging head which is to be associated with the handle in' a plurality of difierent ways, as illustrated in the drawings and as will hereinafter be explained. V The handle member 1 includes a grip portion indicated by the numeral 3 and of any desired contour as for example the fiat contour shown in the drawings or of a rounded contouigand the said member at one end,

of the grip portion 3, is turned at an angle to the grip portion to provide a more or less curved shank 4. The opposite end of the handle member is of the flat formv shown in the drawings and is indicated by the numeral 5 and may be of any suitable thickness. For apurpose to be presently explained, the end 5 of; the handle member 1 is provided with an opening 6 the wall of which is formed atequi-distant points with a plurality of recesses? i v i The shank 4L terminates in a socket which is indicated in general by the numeral 8 and whichis of general cylindrical form and provided with a cylindrical bore extending longitudinally therethrough, this bore being indicatediby the numeral 9 and the axis,

thereof being atv right angles, preferably, to the axis. of the opening 6 and substantially parallel to the longitudinal line of the handle member 1. At its outer end, the socket 8 is provided with a rectangular rim. or flange 10 surrounding the correspondingend of the bore 9 and defining a rectangular recess 11 at the said end of the socket. The wallof the bore at the opposite. end of the socket 8 is formed with notches 12 which are equidistantlyspaced about the periphery of the, wall and which are preferably fourin numor teeth 15 designed to register with the notches 13 when the ferrule is fitted into the bore 9, the ferrule being provided exteriorly at its opposite end with radially projecting lugs 16 which are designed to seat or engage in the notches 12 in the socket 8, the ferrule being in this manner held against rotation within the bore 9. At its end atwhich the lugs 16 are located, the ferrule 14 is interiorly flanged to provide a rectangular opening indicated by the numeral 17.

The work-engaging head 2 of the wrench comprises a fixed jaw member 18 and a movable jaw member 19, the head inwardly of the jaw 18 being channeled as at 20 to receive the correspondingly formed shank 21 of the movable jaw 19, and the said shank 21 being provided with a series of rack teeth 22 along its rear edge which teeth mesh with the threads 23 of an adjusting nut 24 rotatably mounted upon a spindle 25 and within a recess 26 formed in the body of the head 2. This structure is similar to that found in wrenches of this general type but in connection with the nut 24 I employ a washer, which is shown in Figure 7 of the drawings, and which is formed of resilient sheet metal. This washer which is indicated by the numeral 27 is formed centrally with an opening 28 to receive the spindle 25, the washer being flexed at its end portions and having one end portion recessed or notched as at 29 to straddle the toothed edge of the shank 21 and its other edge provided with a tongue 30, the said edges of the washer bearing against one end wall of the recess 26 and the intermediate portion of the washer bearing against the adjacent end of the nut 24. This washer serves by its resiliency to take up any lost motion between the nut and the rack edge of the shank 21 and to prevent binding of these-'parts and furthermore provide for a 'more ready and accurate adjustment of the movable jaw 19 when the nut 24 is rotated for this purpose.

The head 2 of the wrench is provided with a shank which projects from its rear side and is indicated in general by the numeral 31 and at the juncture of this shank with the head 2, there is provided a rectanof the socket 8 when the shank 31 is fitted into the bore of the barrel 14 as clearly shown in Figures 3 and 6 of the drawings. The shank 31, immediately rearwardly of the boss 32, is formed with a plurality of lugs or teeth 33 designedto seat in the seat or notches 13 and 15 formed in the wall of the bore 9 and the ferrule 14. The shank 31 is formed at the rear end of its cylindrical portion with a reduced squared portion 34 which is designed to seat within the squared opening 17 in the rear end of the ferrule 14, and beyond this reduced squared portion the shank is furtherreduced and threaded to provide a stem 35 which, when the parts are assembled, projects beyond the said rear end of the ferrule 14. A nut 36 is adapted for application to the stem 35 and the said nut comprises a head 37 and a sleeve extension 38 which projects axially from one face of the head and, together with the said head, is formed with a threaded bore 38 to receive the stem 39. A spring 39 is assembled with the stem 37 and is adapted to bear at one end against the face of the head 37 from which the sleeve 38 projects and at its other end against the said rear end of the ferrule 14. It will now be evident that with the parts assembled as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the teeth 33 will engage in the seats 13 and 15, and the squaredportion 34 of the shank 31 of the head 2 will engage in the squared opening 17 of the ferrule 14 so that the head will be held against rotation. However the wrench, when the parts are thus assembled, may have its head 2 adjustedto assume various positions with relation to the plane of the handle member 1, this being accomplished by relatively moving the head and handle in a direction to separate the same in which movement of the parts the teeth 33 will be disengaged from the teeth or notches 13 and 15, and the squared portion 34 will be disengaged from the opening 17, the rounded or cylindrical portion of the shank 31 being then free to rotate'within the said ferrule 14, and thus the head 2 may be turned to the desired angle and then be permitted to return to its locked position under the influence of the spring 40. In this manner, the head 2 may be adjusted to assume a position occupying substantially the same plane as the handle 1, as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, or a plane at right angles thereto as shown in Figure 3, the desired adjustment being made in accordance'with the conditions under which thewrench is to be employed and to suit the convenience of the user.

By reference to Figure 6 of the drawings it will be observed that the head 37 of the nut 36 is provided in its face which is located opposite the space from which the sleeve 38 projects, with an annular groove 41 and it will be further evident from the said figure that the nut may be removed from the stem 35 in the position shown in Figures 1 and of the drawings and reversed end for end and again applied to the said stem so that when tightened its grooved face will securely bind'against the end. of the ferrule 14 and against the end of the wall of the bore in the socket 8, the periphery of this latter wall at such time seating in the said groove 41. When the parts are thus assembled a rigid structure is produced as (listing-uished from the more or less fiexiblest'ructure producedwhen the nut is assembled with the stem 35 in the first described manner and in combination with the spring 40. Of course when the parts are assembled as shown in Figure 6' thehead '2 of the wrench will be securely held inthe angular position to which it is adjusted and cannot be rotated to assume another position without removing or at least loosening the nut.

If desired, thesame result may be obtained bythe employment of the auxiliary nut shown in Figures 7 and 9 of the drawings and indicated in general by the numeral l2,- this nut comprising a head which is provided withfinger wings or pieces 43 by which it may be rotated and being formed with a groove 44: corresponding to the groove 11 of the nut 36. V

When occasion requires or where itjis desirable, the wrench may be converted to the form shown in Figure 40f the drawings and when so converted may be employed in amanner similar to a ratchet wrench. In this arrangement of the parts, the rounded portion of the shank 31 is fitted into the open-,

the shank 31 with the projections between the notches 15 engaging or seating in the recesses 7 The nut 36 is then threaded onto the shank 31, the spring 40 having previously been assembled with the sleeve 38 of the said nut. lVith the parts in this position the head 2 may turn with relation tothe handle of the wrench against tension of the spring 10, the lugs or teeth 33 engaging interchangeably in the recesses 7 as the head is rotated upon its shank.

It will be understood that when the wrench is employed in the manner illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings, the ferrule 14c may be dispensed with if desired and the spring 14 fitted over the portion 31 of the shank of the wrench, and the nut 36 reversedto the position shown in Figure 6 so that its head will bear against one end of the said spring, the other end of the spring bearing against the side of the handle 3, and when the parts are so arranged the wrench is capable of use as a ratchet wrench.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A wrench comprising a handle having a socket, a work-engaging head having a shank rotatably and slidably fitting in said socket whereby the head may be angularly adjusted without disengagement of its shank from the socket, coacting means upon the shank and the wall of the socket for restraining the shank against rotation in the socket, and means holding the shank against sliding movement in the socket.

2. A wrench comprising a handle having a socket, a Work-engaging head having a shank rotatably and slidably fitting in said,

socket whereby'the head-niay be angularly adjusted without disengagement of its shank from the socket, coacting means upon the shank and the wall of the socket for restraining the shank against rotation in the socket, and means yieldably. holding the shank against sliding movement in the socket.

3. A wrench, comprising a handle having a socket, a-work-engaging head having a 4. A wrench comprising a handle having.

a socket, a work-engaging head having a shank rotatably and slidably fitting in saidsocket, the wall of the socket having-seats formed therein, teeth upon the said shank engageable' in the seats interchangeably in the rotation of the head, and .meanscyielda ably holding the shank against sliding movement in' the socket. I, V

5. A wrench comprising a; handle having a socket, a work-engaging head having a shank rotatably and slidably fitting in said socket, the shank having a threaded stem projecting from its end, coacting means upon the shank and the wall of the socket for restraining the shank against rotation in the socket, and a nut threaded onto the said stem and reversible thereon end for end and arranged in one position to permit of sliding movement of the shank in the socket and in another position to engage the end of the socket and prevent such movement.

6. A wrench comprisinga handle having a socket, a work-engaging head having socket, the shank having a threaded stem projecting from. its end, coacting 'means upon the shank and the wall of thesocket for restraining the shank against rotation in the socket, a nut threaded onto the said stem and reversible thereon end for end and arranged in one position to permit of sliding movement of'the shank in the socket and in another position to engage the end of the socket and prevent such movement, and a spring removably associated with the nut and arranged in the first-mentioned position of the nut to bear between the same and the socket, whereby to yieldably resist sliding movement of the shank in the socket.

7. A wrench comprising a handle'hav ing a socket, a work-engaging head having a shank, one end of the socket having notches, a ferrule removably fitted into the socket and having lugs seating in the said notches whereby to prevent rotation of the ferrule within the socket, the other end of the ferrule having notches, the said shank rotatably fitting within the ferrule and being provided with teeth engageable interchange- :tbly within the notches in the end of the ferrule, and means holding the shank against sliding movement in the socket.

8. Awrench comprising a handle having a socket, a work-engaging head having a shank, one end f the socket having notches, a ferrule removably fitted into the socket and having lugs seating in the said notches whereby to prevent rotation of the ferrule within the socket, the other end of the ferrule having notches, the said shank rotatably fitting within the ferrule and being provided with teeth engageable interchangeably within the notches in the end of the ferrule, and means yieldably holding the shank against sliding movement in the socket.

9. A Wrench comprising a handle having a socket-,- a Work-engaging head having a shank, one end of the socket having notches, a ferrule removably fitted into the socket and having lugs seating in the said notches whereby t prevent rotation of the ferrule within the socket, the other end of the ferrule having notches, the said shank rotatably fitting within the ferrule and being provided with teeth engageable interchangeably within the notches in the end of the ferrule, the said shank having a threaded stem projecting from its end, a nut removably fitted onto the said stem, and a spring interposed between the nut and the end ofv the socketfor yieldably holding the shank against sliding movement in the socket.

10. A wrench comprising a handle having a socket, a work-engaging head having a shank, one end of the socket having notches, a ferrule removably fitted into the socket and having lugs seating in the said notches whereby to prevent rotation of the ferrule within the socket, the other end of the ferrule having notches, the said shank rotatably fitting within the ferrule and being provided with teeth engageable interchangeably within the notches in the end of the ferrule, the said shank having a threaded stem projecting from its end, a. nut removably fitted onto the said stem, and a spring interposed be tween the nut and the end of the socket for yield-ably holding the shank against sliding movement in the socket, the said nut being reversible upon the stem and in a reverse position being constructed to engage against the ends of the socket and thereby positively restrain the shank against sliding movement in the socket.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature.

FRANK C. WUTKE. [L. s] 

